The Pistons found something Monday night, and there’s no reason to mess with it now.
Even with Anthony Davis listed as questionable before the game, Detroit got the full-force version anyway, as he went off for 44 points in the loss. Now the Pistons are back at it against Washington, and Davis isn’t on the injury report - though with this being the second night of a back-to-back and a sore ankle still in the picture, there’s at least a chance he sits.
If he does, fine. If he doesn’t, Detroit still has a blueprint worth keeping.
JB Bickerstaff’s small-ball look gave the Pistons more juice in the first meeting, and it paid off in a big way. John Collins started at center and turned in his best outing of the season, finishing with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
The lineup also opened the floor, sped the game up and put more handling and passing on the court. Detroit finished with 31 assists and only 10 turnovers, and the ball kept moving all night.
That setup also made room for a few useful changes. Paul Reed moved to the bench, where he can do what he does best as an energy piece, and Daniss Jenkins entered the starting five, where he’s been strong in a Detroit uniform. There’s a good chance Jenkins stays there tonight, and Kevin Huerter should see plenty of run after playing well in Monday’s win.
The one drawback was obvious: Detroit got beat on the glass, and Davis was a problem from the jump. He had 30 points in the first half and looked on track to wreck another scoring night in Detroit.
So if Davis is out there again, the Pistons’ answer should be the same one they leaned on before - make him chase, make the game faster, and force Washington to keep up. Detroit has been better when it’s running, and that should matter tonight with the Wizards playing their third game in four days and likely carrying tired legs.
That pace should show up in the half court too. Detroit has been sharper there lately, helped by the off-ball movement of Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter and the added playmaking from Ausar Thompson and Daniss Jenkins. The Pistons can live with giving up some rebounding edge if it means they’re turning the ball over less and keeping the offense humming.
In Other News...
Daniss Jenkins Is Giving The Pistons A Tough New Decision
Daniss Jenkins has turned a strong start into one of the more interesting roster questions facing Detroit. The guard has given the Pistons steady production, averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds while knocking down 43 percent of his 3-point attempts, and that kind of early impact tends to get noticed quickly in a league that is always looking for useful backcourt pieces.
The tricky part is what comes next. Jenkins is headed toward restricted free agency at seasons end, which gives Detroit control, but not necessarily an easy path to keeping him if the market gets involved or the cap picture tightens. The Pistons also have to weigh the progress of rookie Ebuka Okorie and the contract situation of Paul Reed, which means Jenkins rise may be forcing the front office to think several moves ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Already Have One Early Reason To Feel Better About Collins
The Pistons decision to swap Tobias Harris out and John Collins in at power forward already looks easier to understand in early-season context. Harris, now 34, still has not played this season because of a calf strain, and it has only sharpened the questions that were already hanging over his durability as Detroit weighed its options in free agency.
Collins was never just about talent for the Pistons, either. The appeal was always tied to his availability and the flexibility of his contract, even with the age concern that comes with adding another veteran. For a team trying to stabilize that spot, simply having a player on the floor has been a useful early reminder of why Detroit made the move. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Detroits strong 7-3 start has changed the conversation around the franchise in a hurry. With a healthy stash of draft capital and expiring contracts in hand, the Pistons are in position to be more than patient observers ahead of the Feb. 11 trade deadline. They have put themselves in the mix in the Eastern Conference, and the front office now has to weigh whether to keep building organically or use those assets to accelerate the timeline.
The need is fairly clear: secondary scoring and frontcourt depth would both help a team trying to keep pace with Boston and Philadelphia. Names such as John Collins, Duncan Robinson and Naz Reid have already surfaced as possible fits, which tells you the market is starting to take shape around Detroits needs. The bigger question is how aggressive the Pistons want to be, because the right move could help them chase the top of the standings, while the wrong one could cost them the flexibility that got them here. [Read more 🡒]